CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Mr GEE (Calare) (09:36): Today, I celebrate two great cultural treasures of the Calare electorate: the Gulgong Pioneers Museum and the Mudgee Museum. Established in 1962 in the historic former Times Bakery and Produce Store, the Gulgong Pioneers Museum houses one of the nation's finest collections of Australiana. It offers a remarkable window into Gulgong's gold-rush heritage, showcasing domestic tools, farming and mining equipment, horse-drawn vehicles, period clothing, early photographs, heritage buildings, Indigenous artefacts and geological displays, all dating back to the 1800s and earlier.

The museum does far more than display objects; it safeguards the stories, hardships, ingenuity and determination of the pioneers who helped shape our nation. Its preserved streetscape and extensive collections provide future generations with a tangible, living connection to our past. Importantly, this remains a deeply community driven institution.

Its ongoing care and success are made possible by the dedicated volunteers from the Gulgong Historical Society committee, and I'd like to acknowledge president Chris Seis, senior vice-president Marie Gorrie, junior vice-president Arthur Johnson, secretary Cheryl Vassel and treasurer and publicity officer Tracy Simmonds, alongside committee members Penny Pinnock and Scott Pollard.

I extend my sincere thanks to them as well as to the tireless volunteers, whose leadership, vision and hard work ensure the Gulgong Pioneers Museum continues to thrive. Just down the road, the Mudgee Museum performs a similarly vital role for our region. Operated by the Mudgee Historical Society, this outstanding museum is home to an extraordinary collection of around 60,000 items that tell the story of the people, industries, cultures and communities that have shaped the Mudgee district for generations upon generations.

The success is a direct result of the passion and commitment of its hardworking committee and specialist volunteers. I'd like to acknowledge, in this House today, president John Broadley, vice-president Sue England, treasurer Tereza Wright and secretary Lorraine Stewart—and also the committee members, who work so generously and give up their time: Elick Baynham, Bob Gray, Peter Johnson, Greta Piper, Garry Hobbs, Thelma Meers and dedicated researchers Sandra Sheridan and Lyn Robinson.

The Gulgong Pioneers Museum and the Mudgee Museum are far more than collections of artefacts. They are living records of our region's journey and a testament to the local heritage and community spirit that make the Central West so special. On behalf of this House, I thank everyone involved with both museums for their invaluable service to our region, and I wish them continued success, because, if we don't preserve our history, it will be lost.

This is what our museums do. They preserve our history.